Tumbler pad for drying machines



S. M. HYMAN TUMBLER PAD FOR DRYING MACHINES Filed NOV. l, 1951 Y n@ "V/@` 27j@ IN V EN TOR. 5A MMHYMAN Bv Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES! gTENT vOFFICE 2,651,509 l TUMBLER PAD Foa DRYING MACHINESy Sam M. Hyman, Manitowoc, Wis.

Application November 1, 1951, Serial No. 254,293

4 Claims. (Cl. 259-1) This invention relates to tumbler pads for use on the baffles of the rotary drums in drying machines in the cleaning industry to prevent button breakage or other damage to garments tumbled in the dryer.

While tumbler type dryers, equipped with internal ribs or baffles, provide a generally accepted type of machine for accomplishing the desired end, they have presented the universal problem of breaking or tearing buttons from garments while they are being tumbled. Numerous attempts have been made to provide suitable cushioning pads for the bafes of this type of machine to overcome the above mentioned problem.

Due to the relatively high temperature of operation of these dryers, frequently in the neighborhood of 350 Fahrenheit, and the presence of considerable moisture in the machine, the majority of the previously designed cushioning pads have failed to give satisfactory service either from the standpoint of results accomplished or the duration of the life of the pads.

The present invention constitutes an improvement on my original idea relating to plastic covered tumbler pads as disclosed and claimed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,480,929.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tumbler pad adapted to overcome the major diiiculties eX- perienced with most of the devices previously used and the minor diiculties encountered in the use of other of the devices.

An another object ofthe present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved tumbler pad having a relatively smooth slick surface, formed of plastic, nylon or similar material covering a cushioning portion to thereby aiord a device having vastly improved operating characteristics in the form of greatly increased wear resisting properties coupled with materially lessened damage to the processed garments.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved tumbler pad including a relatively smooth garment contacting surface formed of plastic or like material backed by a cushion of resilient material such as felt, foam rubber, ber glass or other suitable yieldable material capable of withstanding the eiects of high temperatures and the presence of considerable moisture. v Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved tumbler pad constructed in a manner to aiord the optimum protection against button breakage or other damage to the garments by protecting the same against contact with the raw edges of the plastic material.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tumbler pad constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and having parts broken away to more clearly illustrate its structure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the pad;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the structure of an end hem at the cushion portion of the pad;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing the end hem adjacent its longitudinal marginal edge;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through one of the bales ci the dryer and showing the tumbler pad in functioning position on the same;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modiiied form of the tumbler pad shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6, showing the means for attaching the vplastic covering to the cushioning portion of the tumbler pad in a manner to prevent contact of the raw edge of the covering with the garments in the dryer; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a further modified form of the invention wherein the rawmarginal edge of the plastic covering is protected against contact with the garments in the dryer by the application of a binding tape around the marginal edge of the tumbler pad.

Before entering into a detailed description of the various forms of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, it is believed that a brief description of the application to which the tumbler pad is put will serve to emphasize its several advantages. At the outset, the tumbler type dryer includes a casing housing a Perforated rotary drum having a plurality of longitudinally disposed inwardly projecting bafcs which serve to contact the clothes and tumble the same as the drum is rotated. Obviously, the impact of the baies with the garments, as the garments are thrown in the drum, would cause considerable button breakage and other damage to the garments in the absence of a shock absorbing covering for the bailles. In addition to shock absorbing properties, the covering for the baffles should provide wear resisting qualities which will insure a reasonably long useful life span. The inherent conditions in which the tumbler pads are called upon to function, at relatively high temperature and high humidity, tend to cause very rapid wear on the fabric cover by reason of the rubbing contact between the baffle covers and the` tumbled garments. Under the most favorable conditions, the life span of fabric covered.` tumbler pads is so short that their use becomes expensive; not only from the standpoint' of" replacement cost but also in thel'oss.; of. machine operating time and the labor of their replacement.

While the use of plastic covered pads, of the type described. and claimed in my earlier mentioned' patent, have providedaf device with vastly improved wearing properties :due to the nature of the plastic material;- l? havev found that in some instancesdamage tothe tumbled' garments has resulted' from exposed raw edgesl of this plastic materialy which tendsto have vits ex-pcsed edges crack and become brittle under-the high temperature of the'dryer;

The present invention isL directed to vanimprovement inthe structure of' the tumbler pad to overcome this slight defect by providing' a device in which. none of the raw edges of the plastic covering materiall are exposed to contact the tumbled garments.

The tumbler pad' chosen for illustrativev purposes in Figs. 1Y to 5, inclusive, the accompanying drawing andV constructed= in' accordance with the teachings'ofthe present invention comprises generally a pad I havingy a cushion member II formed of resilient material suchA as felt; foam rubber, ber glass or simil'a-r-v materialV and a covering I2 formed ofj plastic or similar material. In this form of the invention, the cushion member I'I extends substantiallyu thefull length of the pad I0 and is secured; in proper posit-ion on a canvas base I3 by means of parallel stitchings I4 which extend?l the length of the cushioning member. The upper portion of the pad H) includes thel plasticy cover I`2-" to which a pair of canvas strips I5' are attachedl along the longitudinalmarginal edges of-'the cover I2 by means of three thread overedge stitching I-G. The overallwidth of the upper portion of; the pad' I-II is greater than the width of the base' I3, before the two parts are joined; together, so that when the longitudinal marginal edges of the strips I5v and base I 3 are aligned the plastic cover I'2 ts loosely over the cushion member I'I. With the upper and base portions ofthe pady properly arranged, the two are joined together by' means of parallel stitchings I1 extending lengthwise of the pad and disposed adjacent the edge of the cushion member I`I and the stitchings IG. The longitudinal marginal edges of thel base I3 and the strips I5 are joined by three thread overedge stitching I8. End hems I9 are formedon the pad I- by turning the ends of the base I3 over the upper portion of the pad and applying two parallel lines of stitching 20. The pads are completed by the application off a plurality of eyelet grommets 2l in parallel arrangement adjacent the longitudinal marginal edges of the pad I6.

In actual use, one of these pads I0 is applied to each of the bailies ofthe drying machine. In

4 Fig. 5 I have illustrated a pad I0 applied to a baie 22 which is U-shaped with its closed portion projecting toward the center of the drum. Suitable holes 23 are formed in the sides of the baille 22 to receive anchoring means for retaining the pad in position on the baiiles. Each lower marginal edge of the baffle 22 is provided with a series of tangs 24 adapted to extend through holes or perforations 2 5 formed in the cylindrical. Wall of a drum 26'. The bales are secured in place in the drum by clinching the tangs 24 against the outer surface of the drum 26. The pad I is releasably retained in proper positionnupon; thegbaiiie by means of spring clips 2l whichare inserted through the aligned grommets 21 the pads and the holes 23 in the baille 22.

yIntlielnodiiied form of tumbler pad shown in Figs. 6 and 'l the pad ID' comprises a cushion portion II" and a covering I2' formed of plastic material. In this form, it will be noted that the cushion member I'I is coextensive with` the size of the pad I0 and that the coverV I2 is larger in both directions than thev other member.` To form the pad'in the desired manner, the normally projecting marginal edge of' the cover |12. is turned under the marginal edgeofthe cushion member I I.' and the=parts are joined by stitching 28 whichy extends completely around the pad IIB. Inl this manner it will` be seen that the pad HY'is so formed that the marginal edge of the cover I2" cannot come in contact with the garmentsV contained' in the dryer. The pad Iii.' is completed by the application oi' a. plurality off grommets 21' which are positioned and arranged to function in the manner previously described.

In the form of tumbler pad` shown in Fig. 8, the pad I0 is similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and comprises a cushion member I I' and a cover member I2i". In the presentv instance, the two parts are identical in size andy shape and a binding tape 29 is applied to the marginal edgeof the pad I0." and the several parts are joined together by stitching 3dV which extends completely around the pad. It will also be noted that this form of pad provides a construction which prevents the marginal edge of the` cover from coming into contact with the garments contained in the dryer.

From the foregoing description of the several forms of the invention it will readily be seen that a newand improved tumbler pad has been provided which will notY only withstand strain and abrasive Wearby reason of the wear-resistant property of the cover but one which affords greater protection against button breakage or other damage to the garments under treatment by reason of the fact that its construction insures against contact of the garments with the raw edge of the covering material of the pad which frequently tends to become brittle and crack under the influence of the high temperature inthe dryer.

The term plastic as used in the foregoing description and the appended claims is to be construed in its broader sense and is not used with the intent of deiining a single specific material. Obviously, nylon or any one of a number of other materials, having similar wear resisting properties coupled with a relatively smooth slick surface, would serve with equal facility in providing a device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. l

The fundamental concept of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved tumblerpad having a cushionV member provided with a covering having a relatively smooth slick wear resistant property to prolong the useful life of the pad. A particular advantage of the present pad is found in the provision of a construction wherein the raw marginal edge of the cover is protected in a manner to prevent its coming into contact with the garments under treatment so as to materially reduce any possibility of damage to the garments.

From the foregoing description of the several forms of the invention, it will readily be seen that a new and improved tumbler pad has been provided which will not only withstand strain and abrasive wear by reason of the presence of a covering formed of relatively smooth slick wear resistant material but one which affords greater protection against button breakage or other damage to the garments under treatment by reason of its construction which insures against contact of the garments with the raw edge of the covering material of the pad.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in the foregoing specication, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its embodiments without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A tumbler pad for application to the baiiles of a drying machine or the like, said pad comprising a base portion substantially co-extensive with surface of the bailie to be covered and including a cushion member, an upper portion including a cover of plastic material having an area suflicient to cover said cushion member, said plastic material serving to increase the wear resistant properties of the pad and afford only a relatively smooth surface for contact with the garments under treatment, fabric means attached to the entire raw marginal edge of said plastic material to form a protective covering for the same to preclude contact between the raw marginal edge of said plastic material and garments under treatment in said machine, and means for securing base and upper portions of said pad to forming a unitary structure.

2. A tumbler pad for application to the baffles of a drying machine or the like, said pad comprising a base portion substantially co-extensive with the surface area of the bale to be covered and including a cushion member, an upper portion including a cover of plastic material having an area suicient to cover said cushion member, said plastic material serving to increase the wear resistant properties of the pad and afford only a relatively smooth surface for contact with the garments under treatment, fabric means secured by stitching disposed adjacent the raw marginal edge of said plastic material to preclude contact between the raw marginal edge of said plastic material and garments under treatment.

' 3. A tumbler pad for application to the baffles of a drying machine or the like, said pad comprising a base portion substantially co-extensive with the surface area of the bafe to be covered, a cushion member disposed longitudinally of said base portion and secured thereto, said cushion member being narrower than said base portion, an upper portion including a pair of side marginal strips of fabric material and a central portion of plastic material, said strips land central portions being joined along their adjacent marginal edges, said central portion of plastic material an area sufcient to cover said cushion member, said plastic material serving to increase the wear resistant properties of the pad and providing a relatively smooth surface for contact with the garments under treatment, a fabric binding means secured to the end raw edges of said central portion of plastic material to form a protective covering therefore to completely enclose the raw marginal edge of said central portion of plastic material to preclude contact between the raw marginal edge of said plastic material and garments under treatment.

4. A tumbler pad for application to the baflies of a drying machine or the like, said pad comprising a base portion including a yieldable cushion member, an upper portion including a cushion covering formed of plastic material to increase the wear resistant properties of the pad and provide a relatively smooth sli-ck surface for contact with garments under treatment, fabric means attached to the entire raw marginal edge of said plastic material to form a protective covering for the same to preclude contact between the raw marginal edge of said plastic material and garments under treatment in said machine, and means for securing said base and upper portions of said pad into a unitary structure.

SAM M. HYMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,097,124 Kelsey Oct. 26, 1937 2,480,929 Hyman Sept. 6, 1949 

